honorary degrees

Thomas was born in Winchester, Kentucky and brought up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended public school and later graduated from Wayne State University.Upon leaving college she served as a copy girl on the old, now defunct, Washington Daily News.In 1943 Thomas joined UPI and the Washington Press Corps.

For twelve years, Thomas wrote radio news for UPI, starting each work day at 5 : 30am . Eventually she covered the news of the federal government, including Justice, the FBI, HEW and Capitol Hill.Thomas served as President of the Women's National Press Club (now merged with the National Press Club) from 1959-1960, and then went on the become the first woman officer of the National Press Club after it opened its doors to women members following a 90-year span of all-male membership.

In 1968 Thomas was named Newspaper Woman of Washington by the American Newspaper Woman's Club.After fifty years of existence, she was the first female officer of the White House Correspondents.From 1976-1976 she became its first female president.In September 1971, Pat Nixon scooped Thomas by announcing her engagement to AP's retiring White House correspondent, Douglas B. Cornell at a White House party hosted by President Nixon in honor of Cornell.They were married shortly thereafter.Cornell is now deceased.

Thomas was the first woman print journalist to travel with the President, accompanying President Nixon to China during his groundbreaking trip in January 1972.Since then she has been to China with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush, covering every economic summit.

In 1975 Thomas became the first woman member of the Gridiron Club, a 90-year old institution.In 1976 she was named one of the most influential women in America by the World Almanac.In addition to being awarded over twenty-two honorary degrees ; including Brown University, Northeastern University, George Washington University, Skidmore College, Russell Sage Colleges, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University, the University of Missouri awarded her an Honorary Doctorate and a Journalism Award.Thomas has also been a commencement speaker at many colleges and universities.

Thomas has delivered lectures and speeches on the White House and the Presidency throughout the country.She has also served as a panelist and speaker at a number of Presidential Library seminars.Thomas is the author of Dateline White House.

Over the years Thomas has been awarded many awards for her journalism, including the Ohio University Journalism Award, Columbia University Journalism Award, National Press Club-Four Estate Award, Bob Considine Award, National Federation of Press Women Award, University of Texas Journalism Award, Michigan State University Journalism Hall of Fame Award, University of Arizona Journalism Award, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication Award, and many others from schools, colleges and universities.In 1993 Thomas served as the President of the Gridiron Club.In 1998 she was the first recipient of the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award presented by President and Mrs. Clinton.

Thomas was born in Winchester, Kentucky and brought up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended public school and later graduated from Wayne State University.Upon leaving college she served as a copy girl on the old, now defunct, Washington Daily News.In 1943 Thomas joined UPI and the Washington Press Corps.

For twelve years, Thomas wrote radio news for UPI, starting each work day at 5 : 30am . Eventually she covered the news of the federal government, including Justice, the FBI, HEW and Capitol Hill.Thomas served as President of the Women's National Press Club (now merged with the National Press Club) from 1959-1960, and then went on the become the first woman officer of the National Press Club after it opened its doors to women members following a 90-year span of all-male membership.

In 1968 Thomas was named Newspaper Woman of Washington by the American Newspaper Woman's Club.After fifty years of existence, she was the first female officer of the White House Correspondents.From 1976-1976 she became its first female president.In September 1971, Pat Nixon scooped Thomas by announcing her engagement to AP's retiring White House correspondent, Douglas B. Cornell at a White House party hosted by President Nixon in honor of Cornell.They were married shortly thereafter.Cornell is now deceased.

Thomas was the first woman print journalist to travel with the President, accompanying President Nixon to China during his groundbreaking trip in January 1972.Since then she has been to China with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Presidents Ford, Reagan, and Bush, covering every economic summit.

In 1975 Thomas became the first woman member of the Gridiron Club, a 90-year old institution.In 1976 she was named one of the most influential women in America by the World Almanac.In addition to being awarded over twenty-two honorary degrees ; including Brown University, Northeastern University, George Washington University, Skidmore College, Russell Sage Colleges, Wayne State University, and Michigan State University, the University of Missouri awarded her an Honorary Doctorate and a Journalism Award.Thomas has also been a commencement speaker at many colleges and universities.

Thomas has delivered lectures and speeches on the White House and the Presidency throughout the country.She has also served as a panelist and speaker at a number of Presidential Library seminars.Thomas is the author of Dateline White House.

Over the years Thomas has been awarded many awards for her journalism, including the Ohio University Journalism Award, Columbia University Journalism Award, National Press Club-Four Estate Award, Bob Considine Award, National Federation of Press Women Award, University of Texas Journalism Award, Michigan State University Journalism Hall of Fame Award, University of Arizona Journalism Award, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication Award, and many others from schools, colleges and universities.In 1993 Thomas served as the President of the Gridiron Club.In 1998 she was the first recipient of the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award presented by President and Mrs. Clinton.